Multiple receptacle filling apparatus



Jan. 22, 1957 H. R. MOGILLIVRAY 2,773,339

MULTIPLERECEPTACLE FILLING APPARATUS v Filed Aug. 26, 1955 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 1 5e g //56 I 74' /G8 1; My 5/ 59 L l L I I 9 INVENTOR I I fiRMGzZZzz/ray 66:

BY ZI MM 70 ATTORNEY A Jan. 22, 1957 H. R. MCGILLIVRAY 2,

MULTIPLE RECEPTACLE FILLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1955 HfP-MbGiZZ z'vry 3.9

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY A 0 7 4 4 Mm u 04 3 3 M v 7 7 //W 4 W M' 0 z 2 z 4 a;

United States Patent MULTIPLE RECEPTACLE' FILLING" APPARATUS Howard R. McGillivray, Riverside, iii.

Application August 26, 1955, SerialNo. 5303843 8 Claims. or. 141-172 This invention relates to a novel apparatus for simultane'ous'ly filling a plurality of containers or receptaclesand by means of which the same quantity of a liquid will be discharged into each of the plurality of receptacles.

'More particularly, it is an aim of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus by means of which a number of corresponding receptacles contained within a. cartonor case may be simultaneously and uniformly filled without removal from the case thereby eliminating the steps normally involved in filling receptacles including re moval of the receptacles from a case or carton, indi vidually filling the receptacles and thereafter replacing the receptacles in the carton or case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a manifold unit of extremely simple construction adapted to function in conjunction with a conventional automatic stop meter of the recycling type whereby the same amount of liquid will be dispensed through the meter each time that the meter is tripped or actuated, and whereby the liquid dispensed from the meter into the manifold will be discharged in corresponding quantities from a plurality of outlets of the manifold for filling a plurality of receptacles simultaneously to the same extent and with corresponding quantities of the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple receptacle filling apparatus including novel means for positioning a plurality of receptacles contained in a carton or case in a position to be simultaneously filled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein: p

Figure l is an end elevational view, partly in vertical section, showing the apparatus in a position for simultaneously filling a plurality of receptacles;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the manifold with the top plate thereof removed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed front elevational View, partly in section, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the :line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the multiple receptacle filling apparatus designated generally 10 includes a manifold dispensing unit, designated generally 11.

The manifold dispensing unit 11'is adapted to be supported on the discharge end 12 :of a conventional automatic stop meter having a valve which automatically trips shut when the desired quantity of a liquid has been delivered therefrom, and which can be set to recycle-or deliver thesame quantity-each time that the valve thereof is moved to an open position. However, it is to be understood that the multiple receptacle fillingv apparatus is equally well adapted foruse with other similar automatic stop meters which are capable ofrecycling, or deliveri'ng the same quantity each time that the meter is opened to d'eliver or dispense. The meter 13 is shown having a hose or conduit 14 connected to an inlet end 15 thereof by which theliquid to be dispensedin measured quantities is supplied under pressure to the meter 13'. The meter 13 is supported in an upwardly" opening socket member 16 having a threaded extension or stem 17 extending from the lower part thereof which extends into the upper end of a hollow post or standard 18 of the apparatus 10. A handwheel 19 or the like is threaded on the stem 17 and bears on the upper end of the post or standard 18 for supporting the meter 13 at desired elevations above the upper end of the post 18, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The lower end of the post 18, not shown, maybe mounted on any suitable supporting surface, such as a door.

The dispensing manifold 1'1 includes an elongated container 20 having a removable top wall 21 which is secured in place by fastenings 22 in a liquid tight manner. The manifold container or housing 20 has a rear wall 23 which is provided intermediate of its ends with a threadedopening 24, as seen in Figure 5, to receive the externally threaded discharge end 12 of the meter 13, by which the unit 11 is supported on said meter, and by which the liquid from the meter is discharged into the container or housing 20. The discharge end of the conduit 12 is preferably disposed substantially flush with the inner side of the rear wall 23 and adjacent the intermediate portion of a baflie or deflector 25. The baflie 25 is substantially V-shaped as viewed from above and has its outer side facing toward the conduit 12 for deflecting a portion of the liquid, discharged therefrom into the container 20, toward each end of said container.

The container or housing 20 includes a bottom wall 26 provided with three threaded openings, including an intermediate opening 27 and complementary end openings 28. Said intermediate opening 27 is disposed on the forward side of the bafile 25, so that said baflle is located between the opening 27 and the discharge conduit 12.

A dispensing nozzle, designated generally 29, is connected to and depends from each of the threaded openings 27 and 28. Each dispensing nozzle 29 includes a tube 30 having open ends and which is provided with an externally threaded upper end 31 which threadedly engages in the threaded opening 27 or one of the threaded openings 28 for supporting the tube in a depending position relative to the bottom 26. Accordingly, each tube 30 has its upper end opening into the container or housing 20. Each nozzle 29 includes an uper guide 32 of openwork. construction which is secured in the tube 30 thereof, near the upper end of said tube, in any suitable manner as by soldening or welding, as indicated at 33. The guide 31 includes a central annular hub port-ion 34 forming a guide in which a valve stem 35 is slidably disposed, as seen in Figure 5. Each nozzle 29 has a ring member 36 suitably secured in the lower discharge end thereof, as by a press fit engagement or in the same manner that the upper guide 32 is secured to the tube 30. A lower guide 37 is disposed in the tube 30 and rests against the inner end of the ring 36. Said lower guide 37 corresponds to the upper guide 32 and has the valve stem 35 extending slidably through the annular hub portion 34a thereof. A spiral expansion spring 38 is disposed around a portion of the valve stem 35 and has a lower end resting on the lower guide 37 and an upper end bearing against a ,waslier39 .which-is'iloosely mounted on the valve stem 35, and the opposite upper side of which masses bears against a cross pin 40 which extends diametrically through and projects outwardly from the valve stem 35, as best seen in Figure 6. The intermediate portion of the pin 40 engages a diametrically extending opening 41 of the valve stem 35. It is to be understood that the valve stem is passed upwardly through the ring 36 and lower guide 37 before said ring and lower guide are secured in the tube 3!), and that the spring 38, washer 39 and pin 40 are applied to the valve stem before insertion of the valve stem in the tube 36 and through the upper guide 32 and before the ring 36 and lower guide 3'7 are applied to the tube 30.

The valve stem 35 is provided with a threaded lower end 42 and has a screw driver kerf 43 located in the lower end thereof, as seen in Figure 5. A disk 44, forming a poppet valve, has a central threaded bore 45 which threadedly engages the stem portion 42. The upper inner side of the disk 44 is provided with a groove 46 which opens outwardly of said inner side and of a portion of the periphery and disk 44 and which is concave in cross section, as seen in Figure 5. A sealing ring 47 which is preferably tubular and formed of rubber is mounted in the groove 46. The lower end of the ring 36 is beveled as seen at 48 on its inner side to provide a seat for the poppet valve 44. The restricted upper part of the valve 44 is receivable in the ring 36 and the sealing ring 47 is compressible between the valve groove 46 and the valve seat 48 for providing a liquid tight seal for the lower discharge end of the tube 30 when the valve 44 is in a closed position. The spring 38 normally biases the valve stem 35 and valve 44- upwardly to cause said valve to assume a closed position for sealing the lower discharge end of the tube 30.

The top wall 21 of the container or housing 20 sup ports a petcock 4% which opens downwardly therethrough, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The apparatus 10 includes means for positioning receptacles to be filled in a position beneath the manifold unit 11. Said means includes a frame, designated generally 50, only the upper portion of which has been illustrated, the lower part of which rests on the same surface supporting the standard or post 18. The frame 56 is connected to the standard or post 18 by a connecting member 51 to prevent relative movement between the manifold unit 11 and said frame. The frame may vary in construction so long as it provides means for conveying cartons 52 containing a plurality of receptacles 53 to a position beneath the manifold 11 and for elevating the carton or case 52 so that the nozzles 29 will be received in the open top thereof and will have their discharge ends received in filling openings 54 of the top walls 55 of the receptacles 53. For the accomplishment of these results, the frame 50 may provide a support for a pair of substantially parallel walls 56 which extend upwardly from a horizontal top part 57 of said frame. A plurality of spaced rollers 58 extend between the walls 56 and have stems 59 projecting from the ends thereof, which extend through and are journaled in the walls 56. The rollers 58 provide a conveyor along Which the cases 52 containing the receptacles 53 may be readily rolled to a position beneath the manifold unit 11 for filling and for movement away from a position beneath the manifold 11, after filling, to a station where the cases 52 can be sealed after sealing of the filling openings 54 and from which the cases containing the filled receptacles can be removed from the conveyor. If desired, the conveyor 56, 58 may be disposed at a longitudinal incline for conveying the cases 52 by gravity to a position beneath the manifold 11 and away from said manifold.

The frame 50 also includes elevator means, designated generally 64 including a plurality of pairs of rods 6 The rods 61 of each pair are disposed in transverse alignment and extend upwardly between two adjacent rollers 58, slidably through the frame portion 57 and through guide sleeves 62 which are fixed to and depend from the 4 frame member 57. The rods 61 have threaded lower ends 63 all of which extend through a bottom plate 64 and are adjustably secured thereto by nuts 65. A pair of nuts threadedly engage each rod portion 63 and said nuts 65 bear against opposite sides of the plate 64 for adjustably securing the rod 61, individual thereto, to the plate 64.

Each pair of rods 61 support a bar which is secured to and mounted on the upper ends thereof. As illustrated in the drawings, three pairs of rods 61 are provided, two of which pairs support corresponding bars 66 and the other of which pair of rods 61 support a bar 67, which is disposed remote from the approach end of the cases 52 to the elevator 61 The bars 66 and 67 at complementary ends thereof are provided with upturned end portions 68 and 69, respectively, which are disposed in alignment and at the ends of the bars which are located more nearly beneath the manifold 11. The end bar 67 is also provided with an upstanding side wall 743 which extends along the outer edge of said bar 67. The bottom plate 64 has centrally disposed depending ears between which is loosely received the upper end of a connecting rod 72 which is pivotally connected at 73 to the cars 71 for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, as seen in Figure 1. The lower end of the rod 72 can be connected to suitable means, not shown, for displacing said rod upwardly for raising the elevator to displace the bars 66 and 67 upwardly with respect to the rollers 58, between which said bars are movable.

A lever 74 is swingably supported beneath the frame member 57 by being connected to a hanger bracket 75 which is suspended from the member 57 for swinging movement of the lever 74 in a vertical plane about its pivot 76. The other free end of the lever 74 extends outwardly from the side of the. frame 50 which is disposed remote from the manifold lland meter 13. A flexible member 77, such as a line or cable, has one end thereof secured to the lever 74 at a point spaced from the lever pivot 76 and passes upwardly therefrom over a pulley 7 d and thence under a pulley 79 which is disposed on the inner or right hand side of the frame 50, as seen in- Figure 1. The flexible member 77 extends upwardly from the pulley 79 around a pulley 80 which is supported by the socket 16 and has its opposite end secured to a trigger 81 of the meter 13 which is rocked by a downward pull on the last mentioned portion of the member 77 for opening the shutoff valve, not shown, of the meter 13 to which the trigger 81 is connected. The pulleys 78 and 79 are supported by the frame 50.

Assuming that the apparatus 10 is to be employed for filling cases 52 each containing three receptacles or cans 53, each of a two gallon capacity, the pet cock 49 is initially opened after which the meter 13 is actuated to deliver a sufficient quantity of a liquid therefrom for filling the container 20 and the nozzles 29 of the manifold 11 to the capacity of said parts, as the air from the manifold is vented to the atmosphere through the pet cock. The pet cock 49 is then closed. The springs 38 possess suflicient tension to maintain the poppet valves 44 in closed positions so that none of the liquid will be dis charged from the nozzles 29. Additionally, the poppet valves .4 are individually adjustable on the threaded stern portions 42 which they engage for adjusting the tension of the springs 38 individually so that the poppet valves will open and close simultaneously.

The meter 13 is then set to deliver six gallons of liquid each time that the valve thereof is moved to an open to open positions are conveyed over the rollers 58, as previously described, in a direction from top to bottom as seen in Figure 2, so that the leading end of each case 52 will pass over the bars 66 in approaching the bar 67. The bars 66 and 67 are supported by the rod 72 with their upper surfaces slightly below the level of the topmost portions of the rollers 58, between which said bars are disposed, but so that the wall 70 will protrude upwardly from the top surfaces of said rollers 58. Accord ingly, as the leading end of the case 52 reaches a position over the bar 67 the leading end thereof will strike the wall 70 which thus forms an abutment to prevent further advancement of the case 52 along the rollers 58. The case 52 is then slid laterally toward the upturned rod ends 68 and 69 to position one side wall of the case against said rod ends and the leading end wall being maintained in engagement with the abutment wall 70. The elevator 60 is then raised with the case 52 thus correctly positioned so that the discharge ends of the nozzles 29 will be received into the filling openings 54. With the case 52 held raised, as illustrated in Figure 1, the free end of the lever 74 is swung downwardly to operate the actuator 81 so that a quantity of liquid, in the exact amount of six gallons, in accordance with the setting of the meter 13, will be dispensed under pressure through the meter outlet 12 into the manifold container 20. As the delivery of the liquid under pressure commences, the poppet valves 44 will be opened simultaneously and to the same extent so that equal quantities (two gallons) will be dispensed from each nozzle 29 for filling the receptacles or cans 53 with like quantities of the liquid. When the dispensing of the liquid is completed, the valves 44 will close simultaneously when the liquid under pressure ceases to enter the container 20, leaving the manifold unit 11 filled as it was before the dispensing operation was commenced. The elevator 60 is then lowered until the abutment wall 70 is below the level of the bottom of the case 52 so that the case 52 can be conveyed on in the same direction away from the manifold 11 to a suitable location or station where the filling openings 54 can be sealed and the case flaps 81 sealed in a closed position, so that the filled case 52 is ready for storage or shipment.

It will be apparent that the operation previously described will be repeated for each case 52 and that the apparatus thus provides an extremely efiicient means for simultaneously filling all receptacles of a case or carton with equal quantities of a liquid without the necessity of removing the receptacles from the case and replacing the receptacles in the case after filling.

It will also be understood that the manifold 11 may be provided with a greater number of discharge nozzles 29 for filling cases or cartons containing more than three receptacles. It will also be apparent that the apparatus may be employed for filling various types of receptacles other than cans, including bottles. The meter 13 can be set to dispense a greater or lesser quantity than the six gallons heretofore referred to, depending upon the number of receptacles which are simultaneously filled and the capacity of each receptacle.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an automatic stop meter for delivering at each operation thereof a predetermined quantity of a liquid under pressure, a manifold unit comprising a container having a substantially vertical wall provided with an opening in which the discharge end of said meter is secured for discharging into the container and for supporting said manifold unit, said manifold unit including a plurality of spaced discharge nozzles supported by said container and having inlet ends opening into said container and downwardly opening discharge ends, downwardly opening valve means for closing said nozzles, means normally maintaining said valve means in a closed position and permitting opening of said valve means in response to a predetermined pressure within said manifold unit, and means disposed beneath said manifold unit and adapted to support an open case containing a plurality of receptacles to be filled in a position so that the discharge ends of the nozzles extend into the filling openings of the receptacles for simultaneously filling the receptacles with equal quantities of liquid when the meter is actuated to deliver a predetermined quantity of liquid under pressure through said manifold unit.

2. In an apparatus as in claim 1, said valve means including slidably mounted valve stems and poppet valves supported by said stems, said means retaining the valves in a closed position comprising a spring individual to each valve, and means for adjustably positioning said poppet valves relative to the valve stems for individually adjusting the tension of said valve springs for causing the valves of different nozzles to open and close simultaneously.

3. In an apparatus as in claim 1, and vent means opening through the top of said container for venting the manifold unit to the atmosphere during the initial filling of said unit, and means for closing and sealing said vent means.

4. In an apparatus as in claim 1, and bafile means disposed within the container of said manifold unit for deflecting the liquid entering said container toward the nozzles thereof disposed remote from said inlet opening of the container.

5. in an apparatus as in claim 1, said case supporting means comprising an elevator on which the case is adapted to be supported and having abutment means adapted to engage a plurality of walls of the case for locating the case in a predetermined position relative to the elevator such that the filling openings of the receptacles thereof will be correctly positioned to receive the discharge ends of said nozzles when the case containing the receptacles is raised by said elevator.

6. In an apparatus as in claim 5, and a conveyor along which the case is movable to a position above the elevator and from which the case is movable to beyond the elevator, said case engaging portions of the elevator including spaced bars displaceable upwardly and downwardly be tween parts of the conveyor for raising the case from the conveyor toward the manifold unit and returning the case to a position to be supported on the elevator.

7. In an apparatus as in claim 6, said conveyor parts, between which the case engaging elevator portions are disposed, comprising rollers.

8. In combination with a device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a liquid under pressure, a manifold unit supported by said dispensing device and through which the liquid therefrom passes, said manifold unit comprising a container, into which the liquid is discharged under pressure, and a plurality of corresponding nozzles having inlet ends opening into said container and downwardly opening discharge ends, downwardly opening valves for closing said nozzles, and means individual to said nozzles normally maintaining the valves thereof in closed positions, the liquid under pressure opening said valves simultaneously, whereby equal quantities of the liquid under pressure will be discharged from each nozzle when the liquid under pressure is supplied to said manifold unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

